Ten year-old Rachel and Ashley Lupin scrambled around the house, laughing at their parents' attempts to get them to calm down.
"Rachel Lupin, come back here right now!" Ginny yelled, looking furious "I mean it! If you don't stop this right now, we won't be going to see the Malfoy's!" Rachel immediately stopped what she was doing and looked at her mother with sad eyes. Ever since she'd been one year old and she'd first met Draco, they'd become good friends. In fact, you could say that they were extremely close, even though they were so young. Ashley sniffled slightly and pouted. Remus sighed in exasperation.
"I honestly don't know how you do it! They listen to you all the time, but they completely ignore me, why is that?" Ginny shrugged.
"You just need to show them who's in control, Hun. Don't let them win"
"You make it sound easy!" Remus exclaimed "It isn't"
Ginny giggled and fondly kissed her husband on the nose.
"Come on. Narcissa and Lucius are probably waiting for us"
"Yeah" Remus grumbled, yawning slightly, then he yelped and ran towards Ashley.
"Ashley, put that down! Now!" Remus commanded. Ashley looked coyly to his father, then reluctantly obeyed.
"Dad!" Ashley grinned, clapping his hands together. Remus glared at his son in annoyance, before smacking his son around the head.
"Ready to go?" Ginny questioned. Remus nodded and together, they flooed to the Malfoy's.
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"Ginny!" Narcissa cried, enveloping her best friend into a hug "Oh, how have you been?" she questioned, looking delighted on seeing the Lupin's.
"Oh, we've been just fine" Remus answered, putting on a wry smile "Seeing as we've got two terrors on the loose" he said, nodding to the Lupin twins whom were making their way over to a blonde haired, blue eyed boy.
"Draco, why don't you go and play Quidditch with Ashley and Rachel?" Narcissa suggested. As soon as this was said, Draco's features lit up as he took Rachel's hand and pulled at Ashley's arm.
"Let's go!" he demanded as he yanked them both towards the broom cupboard.
Ginny and Narcissa both laughed on seeing the Lupin twins being ordered around.
"Where's Lucius?" Ginny enquired, realizing that he wasn't there.
"Oh, he's out at the moment" she stated, looking saddened slightly "He's never really around much these days, being involved with the Ministry" Ginny nodded in understanding, while Remus looked slightly envious.
"How's it going with your job at the moment, Remus?" Narcissa queried politely. Remus ran a hand through his hair, looking embarrassed.
"Not too good, to be perfectly honest. Well, you know, with my condition and everything, it's hard because hardly anyone will accept me" Narcissa nodded sympathetically.
"Don't worry. I'm betting you'll get a really good job soon" Remus smiled slightly.
"I hope so"
"What about you, Ginny?"
"Oh, well, I'm looking into becoming a nurse. Except …" Ginny trailed off looking to Remus hopelessly. Becoming a nurse meant that she'd have to go on a course, and this course would be in another country, meaning she would be away from her husband and children "I honestly don't think I could do it. Being away from my family, they mean so much to me, but … we really need the money"
"Well, Lucius and I could-"
"No!" Both Remus and Ginny snapped sharply. Narcissa watched them both, rather taken aback by their outbursts.
"Sorry Nar, but we can take care of ourselves. We've managed to keep it up for this long. We can manage it for a little bit longer" Narcissa nodded and smiled.
"Sorry"
"No, don't be" Remus said quietly "You just want to help and we appreciate that, but … we're adults, we can take care of ourselves" Narcissa hugged them both, looking quite proud of her two friends.
"So … who wants some Butterbeer?" she said with a grin.
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" … Draco?" Rachel whispered, looking to the blonde haired boy, who was sunbathing in the sun, a smug look on his face as he felt the sun's rays beat down upon him. He immediately sat up on hearing Rachel's voice.
"Yeah, Rach?"
"I'm boooooored" Rachel moaned, flopping down next to him, a pout forming on her features "Where's Ash?"
"Asleep" He pointed to a sandy brown haired boy, snoozing peacefully in the sun. Rachel giggled.
"Have you played Quidditch with him yet?" Rachel asked. Draco shook his head.
"No. Too hot" Rachel grinned.
"So typical"
"Hey, what do you expect from someone like me, eh?" Draco grinned as he lied back down onto the ground, but he jumped to his feet when something cold hit him in the face. Rachel laughed as she started to run, but Draco caught a hold of her arm and pulled her towards him. Rachel smiled sweetly.
"What are you going to do?" she asked. Draco grinned.
"Oh nothing much" and with that, he started tickling her. Rachel screamed as she laughed.
"N-No! Stop!" Draco smirked, watching her try to get her breath back.
"Ever wondered what people get all worked up about with kissing?" Rachel asked rather suddenly "I've never really understood it" Draco nodded, looking thoughtful.
"Me neither, but I think it's supposed to be something special, right?"
"I think so"
"Shall we practice on each other to see what all the fuss is about?" Rachel asked. Draco smirked and nodded.
"Okay" and with that said, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips.
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"Hiya Sirius! Hey Harry!" Remus, Ginny, Ashley and Rachel called out on arriving outside their flat. After all, Harry wasn't to know about magic until he was eleven.
"Hey Ash! Rach" He blushed slightly on seeing Rachel. Rachel hugged him.
"It's so good to see you again Harry. I've missed you!" As Harry pulled away, he looked to his best friend and grinned.
"Alright, mate?" he questioned. Ashley broke into a huge smile and gave Harry a high-five.
Sirius smiled fondly at the two boys, before turning back to Remus and Ginny.
"Hey guys, it's great to see you two again!" He pulled Ginny into a hug, kissed her lightly on the cheek and then gave Remus a 'manly' hug.
"So, anything interesting happening lately that I should know about?" Sirius questioned. Remus shook his head.
"Full moon tomorrow night" He whispered "You don't look too good Moony" Remus shrugged.
"I never do when the full moon's near. Then again, neither do Rach and Ash, but we all get through it" Sirius nodded.
"Can I puh-lease have my wand back now? Harry's nearly eleven, for goodness' sake! He's going to school in September. C'mon Gin, please?" Sirius begged, putting on his puppy dog eyes "Believe it or not, I've actually forgotten what it's like to have a wand and use spells"
Ginny giggled and shook her head.
"Not until Harry's eleven" Sirius scowled in annoyance, while Remus watched his best friend with amusement.
"Right, I'm off" Ginny said, making to leave, but Sirius grabbed her arm.
"You've only just got here!" he stated in disbelief. Ginny smiled.
"I'm going to see Severus, so if are you sure you really want to come?" she questioned, smiling sweetly. Sirius immediately let go of her, backing off slightly. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
"No thanks" he replied coldly "See you later" Ginny nodded and left.
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"Oh Sev, honestly, I think you're overreacting!" Ginny snapped in annoyance, looking exasperatedly to Severus.
"Overreacting?! I've got your twins, Potter and Malfoy; I'm going to be teaching them next year! And you say I'm overreacting?!" Ginny nodded.
"It can't be that bad" She soothed.
"Wanna bet?" he mumbled moodily. Ginny patted him lightly on the back.
"I'm sure that you'll be fine, whatever happens"
"You really think so? Because, seriously, that lot could probably kill me from making me so angry" Ginny laughed.
"Just remember that if you need help, just call me. I'll be more than happy to help out at Hogwarts; it's like a second home to me. I haven't been there in so long" she whispered wistfully.
"It hasn't changed at all" Severus stated grimly.
"And that's a bad thing?"
"No, I guess not. But every single time I walk down the corridors, I keep seeing Potter's or Lily's face! It's irritating! Even bloody Pettigrew's!"
"I'm sure it's not all bad" she said quietly.
"No, not really. Every single time I walk into the Great Hall, I keep having flashbacks from when we met. I'll never forget the look on your face when I first saw you" Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"A look of sheer horror" he stated with a chuckle. Ginny blushed and smacked him lightly round the head.
"I wasn't that bad!"
"Yeah, right!"
"So … how's it going? Being a Potions master, I mean?" Severus' eyes lit up and Ginny noted how much of a kid he looked like. He only ever showed Ginny his emotions, no one else. After all, they were the best of friends.
"Oh, it's great"
I never thought I'd see the day when Severus Snape would look so happy and enthusiastic about something, Ginny mused to herself.
Severus grinned slyly.
"Did Rachel ever tell you that she wanted to be in Slytherin?" Ginny looked momentarily surprised.
"Really?" Severus nodded.
"Yeah. Although, I honestly don't think that she will be one though"
"Why?"
"She isn't cunning enough"
"Oh and how would you know?" Severus smirked.
"I just know"
"Well, Ash told me he wants to be in Gryffindor" Severus pulled a face.
"Yes, I know. He told me"
"Wouldn't it be strange if Rachel was put in Slytherin and Ashley was put in Gryffindor? That would be rather interesting"
"What? That they'd end up being worst enemies? Yes, that would be rather interesting" Ginny laughed.
"Well, I think I need to go now. It's getting dark and I promised Remus I'd be back home by seven" Severus nodded, smirked and pulled her into a hug.
"Have a good walk home. Be careful. Are you sure you don't want me to walk you home?" Ginny shook her head.
"We live five minutes away from each other. I think I'm perfectly capable of walking home without causing a drama" Severus chuckled.
"Alright. Bye"
"See ya!"
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As Ginny walked home, she suddenly became aware that it was quiet … too quiet. She quickened her pace and gasped slightly when she tripped. As she fell, someone reached out and caught her. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw who it was.
"Hello Ginny. Fancy seeing you out here … all alone" The man drawled. Ginny felt her throat constrict painfully.
It was Avery!
